The Qin and Han Dynasties Each of China’s early dynasties was led by rulers who were very different. In this section, you will see how the Qin and Han Dynasties differed because of their rulers.

Emperor Qin Shihuangdi Qin Shihuangdi means “the First Qin Emperor” The Qin ruler made changes in China’s government that would last for 2,000 years. The rulers of powerful local states fought one another and ignored the Zhou kings. One of these states was called Qin. Its ruler declared himself Qin Shihuangdi (SHEE hwahng dee), which means “the First Qin Emperor.” The Qin ruler made changes in China’s government that would last for 2,000 years.

A Powerful ruler Qin based his rule on the ideas of Legalism. *read slide He had everyone who opposed him punished or killed. Books opposing his views were publicly burned. Qin made the central government stronger than ever before. He appointed government officials, called censors, to make sure the government officials did their jobs.

Central Government Provinces and Counties Who had the power? Central Government Provinces and Counties Second in power to the central government were provinces and counties. Under Zhou kings, officials who ran these areas passed on their posts to sons or relatives. Under Qin, only he could fill these posts.

Chinese Currency, Roads, and Canals Qin Shihuangdi unified China. He created one currency, or type of money, to be used throughout the empire. He also ordered the building of roads and a huge canal. The canal connected the Chang Jiang in central China to what is today the city of Guangzhou in southern China. He used the canal to ship supplies to his troops in far-off territories.

The Xiongnu Northern China was bordered by the vast Gobi. Nomads, people who move from place to place with herds of animals, lived in the Gobi. The Chinese knew them as the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu were masters at fighting on horseback. They often attacked Chinese farms and villages. Several Chinese rulers in the north built walls to keep out the Xiongnu.

The Great Wall Qin Shihuangdi forced farmers to leave their fields and work on connecting and strengthening the walls. The result was the Great Wall of China, ,built with stone, sand, and piled rubble. However, Qin did not build the wall that we know today. It was built 1,500 years later.

Why Did People Rebel? Chinese people viewed Qin Shihuangdi as a cruel leader. Aristocrats were angry because he reduced their power. Scholars hated him for burning their writings. Farmers hated him for forcing them to build roads and the Great Wall. *read slide Four years after the emperor died in 210 B.C., the people overthrew his dynasty. Civil war followed, and a new dynasty soon arose.

202 B.C. Liu Bang founded the Han dynasty *read slide Liu Bang, who was once a peasant, became a military leader and defeated his rivals. He declared himself Han Gaozu—”Exalted Emperor of Han.” Han threw out the harsh policies of the Qin dynasty, but he continued to use censors and also divided the empire into provinces and counties.

What was the Civil Service? Civil Service Examinations The Han reached its peak under the leadership of Han Wudi, which means “Martial Emperor of Han.” He ruled from 141 B.C. to 87 B.C. Because Wudi wanted talented people to fill government posts, job seekers had to take long, difficult tests to qualify for openings in the bureaucracy (made up of appointed officials who are responsible for different areas of government). Those with the highest scores got the job. The tests became civil service examination. This system for choosing officials remained part of Chinese civilization for 2,000 years. This system favored the rich. Only wealthy families could afford to educate their sons for the difficult exam. Only one in five passed the exams. Those who failed taught school, took jobs as assistants to officials, or were supported by their families.

The Chinese Empire Grows Han Gaozu  20 Million Han Wudi  60 Million As a result of a growing population, farmers sold land to aristocrats and became tenant farmers. A large bureaucracy was needed to rule the rapidly growing empire. The populations had grown from about 20 million under Han Gaozu to more than 60 million under Han Wudi. Since farmers had to divide their lands among more and more sons, by the middle of the Han Dynasty the average farmer owned only about half an acre of land. With so little land, farm families could not raise enough to live. As a result, many sold their land to aristocrats and became tenant farmers. Tenant farmers work on land that is owned by someone else and pay rent in crop. The aristocrats owned thousands of acres, but the peasants remained in poverty.

150 Years of Peace China’s empire grew in size as well as in population. Han armies added lands to the south and pushed Chinese borders westward. The Han dynasty also made the country more secure. After Wudi’s armies drove back the Xiongnu—the nomads to the north—the Chinese lived in peace for almost 150 years. During this period of peace, new forms of Chinese literature appeared. Scholars and historians wrote new histories of current events and made copies of old literature. The focus of art also changed during the Han dynasty. Wealthy families commissioned products made of the best quality silk and wall carvings featuring scenes of everyday life.

An Era of Inventions Chinese Paper Waterwheel New inventions during the Han dynasty helped Chinese workers produce more than ever. Millers used newly invented waterwheels to grind more grain, and miners used new iron drill bits to mine more salt. Iron workers invented steel. Paper, another Han invention, was used by government officials to record a growing amount of information. The Chinese also invented the rudder and a new way to move the sails of ships. These changes allowed ships to sail into the wind for the first time. This helped China establish trade as far away as India and the Mediterranean Sea.

Chinese Medicine Acupuncture—the use of herbs to cure illnesses and ease pain by sticking thin needles into patients’ skin Chinese medicine also improved under the Han. Doctors discovered that certain foods prevented disease. They used herbs to cure illnesses and eased pain by sticking thin needles into patients’ skin. This treatment is known as acupuncture.

The Silk Road Read pages 246-247

Major Changes in China In chapter 6 we learned that Buddhism began in India, but it soon spread to other countries as well. Merchants and teachers from India brought Buddhism to China during the A.D. 100s. It took a while for people to become interested in Buddhism, but eventually became very popular. One of the most important reasons that the Chinese people began to believe in Buddhism was the fall of the Han dynasty.

The End of the Han Dynasty Han emperors after Wudi were weak and foolish, so the central government lost respect and power. The Aristocrats began grabbing more land and wealth. Dishonest officials and greedy aristocrats caused unrest among and farmers. Wars, rebellions, and plots against the emperor put an end to the Han dynasty. *read slide In A.D. 190 a rebel army attacked the Han capital, Luoyang. By A.D. 220, China had entered into a civil war. During this time the northern nomads invaded the country.

Buddhism During the End of the Han Dynasty The collapse of the government and the beginning of the civil war frightened many Chinese. They felt unsafe. Buddhist ideas helped people cope with the stress and their fear. Even the followers of other religions found Buddhism attractive. Followers of Confucius and Daoists admired Buddhist ideas. By the 400s Buddhism had become popular in China.